Anonymous voter for the 2023 Oscars interviewed Entertainment Weeklywhich is a depressing idea of who gets to choose these awards.
For context, the Oscars voted for By members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. People will be nominated by members in the same line of work as them (i.e. representatives will nominate other representatives) and then any member can vote for who wins. Currently, more 10,000 members MPAS constitutes – and if someone has been nominated for an Academy Award before, they are likely to be a member.
MPAS and the awards themselves (remember 2015 #Oscar So White campaign) has been criticized for its lack of diversity. Although the Academy had previously set targets for diversity, the Hollywood Reporter He wrote in 2022 that 81% of the academy is white and 67% is male.
This year, the Oscars made headlines for the snub The King’s Woman And until – Two films starring and directed by “black women” – despite the wide critical success (the films stand at 94% And 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively) and in the case of The King’s WomanAnd huge box office numbers. No black actors were nominated in the main cast categories and none of the black or female directors were nominated.
According to the representative who Entertainment Weekly I spoke to, systemic discrimination is not a problem at the Oscars. He began “I think the Academy is making an effort to please everyone, and that reflects the state of the world, but I feel they are being held hostage—somewhat unfairly—by the awakening.”
Then the actor took up the role of Viola Davis in King’s womancontinuing, “When they get in trouble for not giving Viola Davis an award, it’s like, No, baby, you didn’t deserve it. We voted, and we voted for the five we thought were the best.”
Then he called out to the “Madam Director” — most likely Gina Prince-Bytewood — and said, “It’s not fair that you suddenly start banging on a frying pan and say [they’re] ignore the blacks. They really aren’t, they’re just making an effort. There may have been a time 10 years ago when they were, but they are, of all things notable, at the forefront of wanting to be inclusive. Viola Davis and the principal need to sit down, shut up, and relax. Didn’t get a nomination – A lot of movies don’t get nominations. Viola, you have an Oscar, you’re doing fine. “
The actor later called Viola again, though he admitted he had not seen King’s woman: “It’s ironic, it’s sour grapes. The academy has gone backwards to be inclusive. Last year, there were more black people doing shows. Like, come on. I think Viola Davis is talented, I haven’t seen King’s woman, but I’m a little tired of Viola Davis and her sneaky crying. I’m over it all.”
Elsewhere in the piece, the same actor refers to Ke Huy Quan as “the man from Everything everywhere at onceHis candidacy, he said, was because “we were more emotional about him because he was the kid who disappeared for 100 years, then came back.”
The unknown actor resented Ke Huy’s EEOAO Actor Jamie Lee Curtis said, “Jamie Lee Curtis looked like a stunt. Like, here, I’m not going to wear a belt, you’ll see how fat I am, I’m Hollywood royalty and I’m wearing glasses and a funny wig and we’ll all laugh about it.” It seemed normal.”
As for who is this actor? EW said of them, “His performances in prestige dramas, mainstream thrillers, and on Emmy Award-winning television shows have earned this actor consistent acclaim throughout his career.”
You can read Entertainment Weekly’s full interview here.